VICTORIA FALLS – The Hosea Kutako International Airport, which has seen a 3.4 percent increase of passengers in the first quarter of 2014 as compared to 2013, ended sixth overall in the Under Four Million passengers’ award category at the Routes Africa marketing awards ceremony on Monday night at a resort in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Hosea Kutako International Airport, which is Namibia’s main airport, came in sixth overall in the category for the best marketing airports in Africa that handles under four million passengers per year.
Kilimanjaro International Airport won the category and was the overall winner of the awards. In second place was Antananarivo Ivato International Airport, followed by Julius Nyerere International Airport, Maputo International Airport, Sikhuphe International Airport and Namibia’s Hosea Kutako International Airport.
Hosea Kutako International Airport custodian, the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) said it is delighted with the recognition.
“For us to be in the top six out of many more eligible countries really goes to show that our efforts to facilitate effective passenger movements is being recognised and this only encourages us to do more for our airports as we continue to develop, manage and operate safe and secure airports on sound business principles with due considerations to the interest of our stakeholders,” said Tamer EL-Kallawi, NAC’s Acting Chief Executive Officer.
NAC General Manager for Commercial Services, Toska Sem, explained what the placing represents. “This means that Namibia is becoming a destination of choice for tourists and airlines thanks to our nature and it is really up to us to continue our efforts of showcasing our country and what it has to offer. I am delighted as well to have Air Namibia with us this time at Routes Africa and if we can also have the Tourism Board on board, it will be a huge success for our country,” said Sem.
Sem added that it was now up to the NAC to remain on top of their game. “We need to make sure our infrastructure is in line with all the safety and security standards as well as adhere to quality assurance in order to further tap into the market of tourists and airlines.”
The annual Routes awards provide the airline community with the chance to have their say as to which airport or tourism authority they think provides the best overall marketing services to them whether this relates to their particular relationship, effective results, provision of data and information or innovative techniques to establish new or maintain and develop existing routes. The short-listed finalists were nominated by airlines and a respected panel of judges, made up of senior members of the airline network planning community from the region.
By Staff Reporter